With a record 92,344 CLAT 2026 applicants and an attendance rate of 96.83% for UG, this year’s competition for seats in India’s premier National Law Universities (NLUs) has intensified more than ever.
CLAT 2026 was moderate overall but featured a surprising Analytical Reasoning–heavy Logical Reasoning section, creating score compression at the higher end — a factor directly influencing cut-offs for top NLUs.
Sagar Joshi, Founder of Law Prep Tutorial and one of India’s most trusted CLAT experts, has released his cut-off analysis for the Top 10 NLUs based on difficulty level, student performance analytics, and national response to the unexpected LR pattern shift.
CLAT 2026 Cut Off for Top 10 NLUs
Based on Sagar Joshi’s national-level analysis, these are the expected cut-off marks needed to enter the Top 10 NLUs in India:
| Category | Expected Score |
| General | 85 |
| EWS | 80 |
| OBC | 82 |
| SC | 68 |
| ST | 65 |
| PWD | 60 |
“Cut-offs don’t just reflect difficulty; they reflect how aspirants responded. This year rewarded balanced preparation and adaptability. Students who handled the Logical Reasoning surprise calmly and capitalized on easy sections like QT will stand ahead in cut-off lists,” said Sagar Joshi.
CLAT 2026 Cut-Off for Top 5 NLUs
Based on the shared institutional cut-off table, here is how the top 5 NLUs stand for CLAT 2026:
| NLU | General | OBC | SC | ST | EWS | PWD |
| NLSIU, Bengaluru | 98 | 95 | 90 | 86 | 96 | 80 |
| NALSAR, Hyderabad | 95 | 93 | 86 | 82 | 94 | 75 |
| NLIU, Bhopal | 90 | 88 | 82 | 78 | 89 | 70 |
| WBNUJS, Kolkata | 93 | 90 | 84 | 80 | 92 | 78 |
| NLU, Jodhpur | 91 | 89 | 81 | 76 | 90 | 76 |
Why These Cut-Offs Make Sense — Sagar Joshi Explains
According to Sagar Joshi, cut-offs are shaped by three major factors this year:
1. Score Compression Due to Analytical Reasoning
The complete shift from Critical Reasoning to puzzle-based AR forced many aspirants to reduce attempts. Two sets even touched CAT-level difficulty, increasing time pressure and lowering accuracy.
This led to a clustering of scores in the mid-range — affecting General and OBC cut-offs particularly.
2. High QT Scores Boosting Total Attempts
Quantitative Techniques was one of the easiest sections in recent years, allowing students to secure 10–12 marks quickly.
This pushed overall totals upward, preventing a major decline in cut-offs.
3. Massive Participation Surge Increased Competition
A 17% rise in total applicants (92,344) and near-perfect attendance meant that competition intensified across all categories, especially for the Top 5 NLUs.
Top NLUs: What Scores Are Truly Needed?
Sagar Joshi highlights that aspirants aiming for the first three NLUs — NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, NUJS Kolkata — should target scores close to the 90–100 range, depending on category.
For NLUs ranked 4–10, scores between 80–85 (General) remain solid for securing a seat.
Reserved categories saw proportionate shifts, reflecting difficulty patterns and attendance percentage.
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